'A paper tiger': Iran sees Saudi, Turkey, Pakistan defense pact as a major win, expert tells 'Post'

The Jerusalem Post reports that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan is seen by Iran as a major win, according to experts. Emirati researcher Huda Albadi calls the pact a 'paper tiger,' noting Saudi inaction against Iran and its proxies. Iran announced electricity imports from Turkey, while Pakistan's defense minister called for a united front against Israel. Experts say the pact may complicate Israeli-Saudi normalization.

The Jerusalem Post reports that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed on August 7, 2026, by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, is likely to be viewed by Tehran as a major success resulting from its aerial attacks on Gulf states, according to experts. Emirati researcher Huda Albadi described the pact as a 'paper tiger,' noting that Saudi Arabia has not taken action against Iran, the Houthis, or Iraqi militias attacking its territory. She criticized the focus on Israel as a scapegoat, saying it is 'delusional' given the daily attacks from other aggressors. Albadi also linked Turkey's involvement to aspirations of restoring the Ottoman Empire, and noted the pact's Sunni-Islamic religious identity as anachronistic. Iranian deputy energy minister Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi announced arrangements for Iran to import 450 megawatts of electricity from Turkey, signaling continued economic ties despite the pact. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called for a 'united military front' against Israel, which he described as a threat to the Muslim world. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei welcomed the pact as based on geopolitical realities and correctly identifying the enemy. International relations expert Dr. Arman Mahmoudian suggested the pact may reduce Saudi Arabia's urgency to normalize with Israel, as it seeks to diversify security guarantors beyond the US, but noted Tehran's complicated perspective, balancing concerns over a Sunni alliance with potential benefits.